General Electric Company

Larry Barton Curtis

Joseph Duane Tobbe

Andrew Joseph Spanyer

A dishwasher including a third level washing apparatus which is low cost and effective in spraying water over the upper rack of the dishwasher is described. More particularly, and in one embodiment, the dishwasher includes a rotatable arm mounted in the dishwasher tub below the lower rack for providing first level washing, and a retractable tower secured to, and rotatable with, the rotatable arm and positioned to extend through the lower rack when fully extended. The retractable tower provides second level washing. The dishwasher also includes a third level wash apparatus having a base secured to the upper rack and an elongate body extending from the base. A water passage extends through the base and elongate body. In one embodiment, a spray member is spaced from an open outlet end of the elongate body, and at least one support member extends from the elongate body to the spray member for supporting the spray member at an elevation above the upper rack. In one specific embodiment, the retractable tower includes an uppermost, substantially cylindrical section having a sidewall with a plurality of water outlet ports. A water jet outlet is located at an outlet end of the uppermost section, and the water jet outlet is oriented so that when water flows out from the water jet outlet, the water is directed through the third level washing apparatus elongate body and flows against the spray member. The water flows out from the water jet outlet substantially along an axis which is off-center with respect to the spray member so that as the tower rotates, the water spray from the spray member rotates, or orbits, within the wash chamber over the upper rack to provide third level washing.

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Louisvillle, KY, United States of America

Larry Barton Curtis